Monday, September 15, 2008

M. Mukundan

M Mukundan is one of the pioneers of modernity in Malayalam literature. He was born on 10 September 1942 at Mayyazhi in Mahe, a former French territory in Kerala. He is the current President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

He is known in Kerala as 'Mayyazhiyude Kadhakaaran'(Story teller of Mayyazhi) - Mayyazhi figures in his early works; 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil', 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal', 'Appam Chudunna Kunkiyamma' and 'Lesli Achante Kadangal'.

His first literary work was a short story published in 1961. Mukundan has so far published 12 novels and 10 collections of short stories. Mukundan's latest four novels 'Adithyanum Radhayum Mattu Chilarum', 'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha','Kesavante Vilapangal' and 'Nirtham ' carries a change in structure and approach.

'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha' reveals how Vasundhara, an actress has been insulted in the course of acting due to some unexpected situations. It proclaims the postmodern message that martyrs are created not only through ideologies, but through art also.

'Kesavante Vilapangal' one of his most recent works tells the story of a writer Kesavan who writes a novel on a child named Appukkuttan who grows under the influence of E. M. S. Namboodiripad. 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal' bagged the Kendra Sahithya Academy award and NV Prize. 'Ee Lokam Athiloru Manushyan' bagged the Kerala Sahitya Academy award. Daivathinte Vikrithikal has been translated into English and published By Penguin Books India.

In 2008, Mukundan's magnum opus Mayyazhi Puzhayude Theerangalil fetched him the award for the best novel published in the last 25 years. Three of his novels were made into feature films in Malayalam . Mukundan wrote the script and one of them bagged a state film award.

Mukundan's latest novel is "Pravasam" (which literally means Journey) and tells the story of a Malayali whose journeys carry him around the world. The novel was officially released on August 23, 2008 by Mr. Binoy Viswam, a minister in the Kerala Government, during the 6th World Malayali Conference held in Singapore on August 22-24, 2008. Fitting, because this conference brought together Malayalis from all parts of the world for a 3-day business/social networking event.

The French government conferred on him the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1998 for his contribution to literature